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New York Public Library

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New York Public Library reviews

3.5

58% would recommend to a friend

(615 total reviews)
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Anthony Marx

53% approve of CEO

44% positive business outlook

New York Public Library has an employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 615 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The New York Public Library employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry (3.9 stars).

Reviews by job title

615 reviews
2.0
Sep 30, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You won't have to take your work home with you. You get to work with the public and help people find information. If you get assigned to a decent branch, you may be involved in some interesting programs, but many branches seem stagnant.

Cons

It's like working for DMV. Many of the senior staff have been there for 15 years or more and the sense of burn-out is palpable. People are promoted based on longevity rather than merit. While many public libraries have been invigorated by the role of technology in information seeking, NYPL feels bogged down by bureaucracy and overwhelmed by a changing society.

3.0
Apr 14, 2026

Join at your own risk

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits, great location, youth-focused.

Cons

Red tape, mismanagement, overworked and underpaid staff.

Viewing 76 - 78 of 615 Reviews

Glassdoor has 666 New York Public Library reviews submitted anonymously by New York Public Library employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if New York Public Library is right for you.